Security fears after alleged trespasser snuck into Labor function
Security at Queensland Labor events will be bolstered after a far-right white nationalist slipped into a function attended by the Prime Minister under the cover of a chaotic pro-Palestine protest.
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Security at future Queensland Labor Party events will be bolstered after a far-right white nationalist slipped into a function attended by the Prime Minister and Premier under the cover of a chaotic pro-Palestine protest.
And the party is considering raising the handling of a fiery protest outside the Greek Club on Friday with Queensland Police amid allegations attendees were jostled, spat on and followed to their vehicles.
But police have stood by its planning and performance, insisting the 250-strong protest group didn’t require “surge capacity” even though “emotions in the crowd were higher” than usual.
A protester also appeared on the roof of the Greek Club to hang a banner and remained there for several hours while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Steven Miles were dining with 600 guests at the “True Believers” dinner.
It can also be revealed far-right figure Ben Shand, who uses the moniker “Dusty Bogan” online, was able to enter the venue and gain access to Labor’s dinner.
Footage shared online by Mr Shand shows him on the balcony of the Greek Club making derogatory comments about protesters and claimed he had “tried to drive through them like it was nothing” and the “cops didn’t care”.
Queensland Labor state secretary Kate Flanders said it was inappropriate that an “anti-Semite, Islamophobe” attended a Labor Party event, asserting Mr Shand was not a guest and likely got into the event amid the “melee”.
“The event was incredibly stressful because party members were being assaulted and abused as they entered the venue, including a 95-year-old Indigenous elder,” Ms Flanders said.
“The whole entry to the venue was incredibly confusing and difficult to manage due to the crowds outside. We didn’t realise (Shand) was inside until he was seen filming inside the room.”
A QPS spokesman said several units were assigned to the “high profile political function”, in addition to the venue’s “in-house security and Australian Federal Police. A group of political protesters were creating a verbal disturbance outside the venue. Emotions in the crowd were higher than police have seen at similar political protests in the past.
“Once inside, guest check- ins were managed by the organisers of the private political function. No political protesters entered the building, which was still open for business to customers.”
Two arrests were made on the evening.
Justice for Palestine Meanjin spokesman Omar As hour said he had not heard of allegations of spitting or Labor members being tailed to their cars after the event and that the group “would not condone any violence or illegal behaviour”.
Mr Miles said he was unaware of concerns about the way police had managed the protest under “very difficult circumstances”.
He said he was “distressed” to hear of the way protesters had treated Labor Party members, saying many of the attendees “would be sympathetic to the views of the protesters”.
“I don’t think it does their cause any good,” Mr Miles said.
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